OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Voters in Oklahoma have rejected a ballot proposal that would have allowed the Ten Commandments to be displayed on the grounds of the state capitol building.

As of press time, State Question 790 had failed with over 55 percent of voters saying no an initiative that asked whether or not the state Constitution should be amended to allow government property to be used for religious benefit.

“This measure would remove Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which prohibits the government from using public money or property for the direct or indirect benefit of any religion or religious institution,” the ballot question read.

“Article 2, Section 5 has been interpreted by the Oklahoma courts as requiring the removal of a Ten Commandments monument from the grounds of the State Capitol,” it explained. “If this measure repealing Article 2, Section 5 is passed, the government would still be required to comply with the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution, which is a similar constitutional provision that prevents the government from endorsing a religion or becoming overly involved with religion.”

As previously reported, a Ten Commandments monument was removed from the Capitol grounds in October 2015 after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the display violated Article 2, Section 5, of the Oklahoma Constitution, which states that property cannot be used to promote a “church denomination or system of religion.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Oklahoma was at the helm of the legal effort to have the monument removed, as it asserted that the placement of the Decalogue on the grounds of the state capitol building was unconstitutional. The lead plaintiff in the case was liberal minister Bruce Prescott, the director of Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists.

In the midst of the conflict, the Satanic Temple soon sought to place a Baphomet statue on the capitol grounds, and the Universalist Society of Hinduism applied to erect a monument to its monkey deity Hanuman.

In April, following the removal of the Ten Commandments monument and a determination among some to have it restored, lawmakers approved a resolution to place the Ten Commandments controversy on the Oklahoma ballot.

“Since the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s decision in June [2015] regarding the Ten Commandments monument, my constituents wanted to know what could be done,” said John Paul Jordan, R-Yukon, an attorney, earlier this year. “I knew it would be a difficult proposition to undo the ruling, so we looked at giving voters the opportunity to remove the basis for the ruling.”

“This is a battle that belongs to the great people of Oklahoma. It’s up to them to determine what they want,” he stated.

The ACLU praised the outcome Tuesday night.

“Today, despite a well-funded and deceptive campaign by the proponents of this state question, Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly rejected the dangerous and misguided attempt by politicians to strip away one of our most fundamental protections in exchange for cheap political points,” Oklahoma Executive Director Ryan Kiesel said in a statement.

“Politicians should take note that attempts to manipulate the law to protect only the rights of a chosen few cannot be tolerated,” he said. “Legislators and state officials will surely continue their fear-mongering attempts to promote intolerance, but thanks to today’s vote, those who value true religious liberty will retain one more tool in the ongoing fight for liberty and justice for all.”

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Reason2012

They voted against the very First Amendment – Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; They chose to make the free exercise of religion illegal except where those who hate it give their permission.

james blue

So government cannot prevent the goatman or Hindu statues being erected on public grounds?

Where are we commanded to put up monuments? We have plenty of church grounds and other private property to use.

The Broker

You don’t understand the First Amendment, moron. The voters upheld a respect for the First Amendment. You’re perfectly free to exercise your faith, we simply don’t allow the government to determine and impose any particular faith upon its people.

Grace Kim Kwon

America is a child of the European Christendom and gets only a moral chaos if the Ten Commandment is taken away from her. No respect for God = no valuing of any life and men die in pursuit of mental illness and AIDS. USA needs Christianity for obtaining life.

johndoe

Thats the great thing about America…no theocracy and no gods needed to live here. They made the correct ruling. Separation of church and state.

Grace Kim Kwon

Separation of church and state does not mean separation of the truth and men. America is a Christian theocracy; its founding documents and anthems and pledges and money bills declare that Americans submit to God alone.

johndoe

Wrong on all counts. America is not now and never has been a theocratic nation. Americans dont have to suit to anyone. Read the history of America

Amos Moses

yes it is …. you just fail to recognize the god that rules it …………

Grace Kim Kwon

Yes, study US history. Americans honored God.

johndoe

Not all of them and not all of our forefathers. Take your own advice

Grace Kim Kwon

Most of them were Christian. Today, still 70% of Americans claim to be Christian. It’s upbringing.

johndoe

Not upbringing. I was raised in the church.

Jeff

The majority are….is not a legal argument. The majority of religious leaders approved slavery in 1860. The Baptists even split their church to support slavery. Sorry, it isn’t “majority rules” in this country.

Grace Kim Kwon

You are wrong. It was hard for white people to view colored people as equal for a long time because white people had literacy and orderliness and technology which others didn’t; you need to understand mankind’s nature. Tribes could not treat other tribes as equal; such thing was unthinkable and also deadly since leniency towards outsiders means the destruction of one’s own tribes everywhere on earth. Survival of the tribe was at stake.

People did whatever necessary to preserve themselves. White Christendom was the first tribe to realize on Planet Earth that all men and women and children are equal under God because they had the readable copies of the Holy Bible first. For the rest, the Non-Western tribes, equality was unthinkable and inconceivable. Mankind always carried slavery for a way of living; it was a mean of survival and also for co-existence in the Bible-illiterate world. See the bigger picture. Understand humans.

Western Christendom is truth-oriented whereas Non-christendom is power/blood-relation/tradition oriented. The difference has been foundational. Non-West enslaved women and children and I think the West was used by God to punish the demon-worshipping women-oppressing savage mankind and educate them to be civilized with God’s Word and literacy and medicine.

Today, Sodomic Western culture also needs a fix. Pre-christian is a barbariam with illiteracy and Post-christian is Sodomy with blood money. Christianity gives mankind the truth and light and life and civility. You guys need to listen to the Baptists to get civilized. The Baptists enabled mankind to read and write before the secular West came to sodomize the world. A summary of human history by observation.

Jeff

Sorry, you provided zero legal standing. You are welcome ot make your claims all you wish, the laws of this country do not support your claim.

Grace Kim Kwon

American laws are wrong if they oppose the Biblical principles. Nazi Germany had false laws. Laws are a trash if they are immoral and unethical. Americans need the Ten Commandments for truth and life.

johndoe

This isnt nazi Germany. This is America. Laws are not based on the bible. Never will be.

Grace Kim Kwon

Sodomic America is as wrong as Nazi Germany. You guys lost common sense by being excessively immoral and well-fed on a planet of 5 billion suffering humans.

johndoe

Well fed? Thank our ranchers and farmers for that. They work hard for very little to supply food to the US. And again, thanks for insulting America.

Grace Kim Kwon

Your ranchers and farmers are the decendants of hard-working white Christian pioneers. They just inherited the land; anyone can do that. Only white Christians can do the pioneering; no one else did it. America is being insulted because the culture is too immoral today. America needs Christianity to be good and right. So happy most of US ranchers and farmers rejected liberals at this election.

johndoe

No they reject people like you. You insult hard working Americans with your ignorant rhetoric. The ranchers and farmers had to purchase the land they farm and the equipment to work the land. Your ignorance of America is overwhelming.

Jeff

Nazi Germany was Christian. Even the SS carried an emblem on their uniform that said “Gott mit un”. God with us. So, yeah, I guess they did have false laws. Feel free to believe what you wish, interestingly enough, our laws allow that. However, our laws do not let you force others to follow your belief. Have a nice day.

Grace Kim Kwon

Every white person claimed to be Christian at that time. It was like saying, “I’m a civilized person.” Nazi Germany was demonic humanist Darwinian evolutionist. It was defeated by then-Christian USA.

johndoe

No they didnt. Some of yhe founding fathers were deists. Read some American history.

Jeff

SURE it was. Well, hold that bible tight. You will be in a minority soon. 35% of those under 30 don’t believe, or don’t care. Isn’t it terrible to lose the privilege of not having to treat others with equality?

Grace Kim Kwon

You guys will come under Russia or China, soon. I don’t worry anything a bit. Just do not massacre the unborns. The West is suffering from childlessness because of the decades of immorality. Sodomites do not prosper and do not inherit anything this life and beyond. Read the Holy Bible. It talks about what happens to nations that are like today’s secular USA. (Isaiah ch. 40-47) Planet Earth is very polluted right now. You need to repent to get a life. No Jesus = No life.

johndoe

The USA is the most powerful nation on earth. We’re not worried about china or russia. No need for every woman to have children. Our population is fine. Life is fine without religion.

DBwatchman

You may want to look deeper into things before discounting them. You may find out Hell is a real place and you were a little arrogant in your lack of understanding. God does not send you to Hell, you are choosing it by your pride. God loves you and Jesus died for you. Seek him in prayer and ask him to show you he is real. He is better than anything in the universe and he is true treasure. This world offers nothing compared with the love of God. Heaven is a real place too and he wants all men to be saved.

Jeff

Good. There are more people on the planet than can be supported with the resources available. You would think if there was actually a god, there wouldn’t be a billion people on this planet who go hungry. I’m glad you god is loving. And for all that massacring of newborns and sodomy going on, where’ s your god? I thought he was omnipotent? Can’t he defeat evil? Or does he just like to see suffering?

Grace Kim Kwon

You are ignorant. The Earthlings are suffering because secular USA is selfish. USA’s land alone can feed 20+ billion humans and have plenty leftover. Stop blaming God and dishonoring your noble normal parents. I feel sorry for all the American forefathers and foremothers who had to work hard only to raise ungrateful selfish greedy ignorant perv USA. You guys are a shame to America’s foundation. Please move to Mars as you wish and bring the Holy Bible with you so that you could keep literacy. If nuclear wars start, it’s because of Sodomic USA. God is waiting for Americans to repent and His Judgment Day is imminent. ( Jude ch.1)

johndoe

The bible didn’t do a thing for literacy. It has, however, caused a huge divide amongst true Americans . Stop bullying and insulting true Americans.

Jeff

Citation please. Documentation References. Please, a historical reference to your comment Americans honored God. Then, after you have provided that evidence I ask for, prove that the god they worshiped is the same as your god. Finally, please explain Article VI of the United States Constitution. You know, the one that specifically rejects any religious test.

Grace Kim Kwon

Read Mayflower Compact, America’s national anthems, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge, US money bills, and all the historic national monuments and donuments, and see the American customs and townships. USA is a Christian theocracy. Everything about USA says Americans trust and submit to the one true God alone. Americans are free people because they can refuse to submit to human villains such as tyrannical kings and atheists, based on the Holy Scripture. US Constitution is mere classroom rules on the basis that American people are Christian people with functioning conscience. You are incapable of understanding America because today’s secular Americans hate Christianity and love immorality. Playboys and prostitutes are not loyal to anything noble or even a nationhood. You need to repent to get saved. Read John chapter 3.

Jeff

Excuse me, where does “Everything about USA says American’s trust and submit to one true god alone”. Specific references please. You made the claim, Ms. Kwon, you have the obligation to provide the exact references to back up your claim. Also, explain the Treaty of Tripoli, where “President John Adams, of course, signed the Treaty of Tripoli, his outreach to Muslims,” “Quote, ‘The government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.’ That was ratified by the United States Senate without debate unanimously in 1797.”

Grace Kim Kwon

Read what I listed. Your quote means that US government does not side with any particular denomination. American laws are founded on the Christian religion and Christian British. Americans have been always expected to be Christian good and Christian civilized by both inside and outside. Widespread nudity and mentally ill immorality changed recent America and the nation is being dissolved. You guys watched too much movies. You need to repent of your sins to get saved. Read John ch.3. Seek life and truth.

johndoe

Our govt doesnt side with any religion over another. Separation of church and state. We are not a theocracy. No matter how many times you say it

Jeff

No, sorry Miss. Cite the lines. Give the exact documentation. It’s interesting since the word god is not in the Constitution, nor in the Bill of rights. Thank you for making assumptions for everyone else. As for my “sins”, they are imaginary. The only truth I seek is in this country, the laws are of man, not the bible.

Grace Kim Kwon

Read the Holy Bible and USA’s founding documents. All the British colonies were established to spread the Christian religion. All the Westerners always knew that Christianity is incomparably good until they started seeking immorality. Americans wouldn’t have had any laws or civility if they had no Holy Bible or Christian Britain. Americans invented stuff but not thoughts. They were all handed down by the Bible-literate Britons.

Jeff

Again, don’t tell me to read something. EXACT quotes please. You cannot produce them no matter how much you keep claiming they are there. What book, page and paragraph please.

Grace Kim Kwon

No, you read your own nation’s documents. If you are not American, leave the USA and go back to your own illiterate caves wherevere you are from. Stop destroying the USA out of hatred. American freedom was established to worship God properly and not to force people to engage in abnormal despicable immorality. If you don’t read the Holy Bible, you’d never discover where the Europeans and Americans stole all the noble ideas from. Seek the truth and repent of your evil unbelief and live.

johndoe

American freedom as you put it was established on the graves of native Americans. As a non American, who are you to tell someone to leave? Stop insulting true Americans. Makes you look foolish

johndoe

The govt doesnt side with any particular religion

Thomas Smith

When we testify in a court of law, when our presidents are sworn in, what is it that we must place our hand on, and swear to tell the truth on? “One nation, under God, indivisible”! “In God we trust”!

Jeff

No one is required to be sworn in, or to place their hand on the bible. As a matter of fact, Representative Ellison was sworn in on a Quran. As for your “Under God”, that was added in 1957, not original. As for “In God we Trust” also not original, added in the 1950’s. Nice try, but not relevant.

Matt Solomon

Out of all the things you listed, only one of those is a legally binding document pertaining to the regular laws of today.

The United States was based on the idea that religious freedom would be respected. Even the most benevolent theocracy would unfairly treat minority religions, because it would show preference for the majority. Therefore, the government ensured that it would set up no law respecting religion or the establishment of a state religion.

This is pretty clearly an argument for an a-religious government guided by laws and rules of men and not any god. If you believe you are better versed in constitutional law than our highest judges, I encourage you to apply to your state’s Judge Nomination Commission and amaze them with your expert constitutional interpretation.

Liberal Elitist

Let the people decide! Oh, wait … they did. Never mind.

TwoRutRoad

Oklahoma is 79% Christian, so more than half of the votes against the proposal came from Christians! This is very encouraging, even if they did it to prevent OTHERS from having their own monuments put up. Maybe they don’t want to be treated the way THEY treat others.

Gena B

That’s exactly right, Christians understand that if they want privileges like prayer in school or statues on government property then you have to provide equal opportunity to all faiths.

Robert

Yes what a awful thing to remind people not to murder their neighbor by way of the ten commandments. Oklahoma is 70 percent chrisian so people think christians don’t need to be reminded.. well exactly than who does most of the murder stealing and adultry in oklahoma .? And why does in the boble God through his profits warn us constantly of sin.? Its because a baptised chtistian soon learns that old rascal in all of us can swim..

TwoRutRoad

Yes. We all need a good reminder not to murder. Except me…I’ve made good habit of not murdering my neighbor.

Do you really think God intended His moral law to be left up for a vote? Of course, little good a Ten-Commandment monument outside a Capital State Building is going to accomplish, if the Ten Commandments are not being adjudicated inside the same building.

When the 18th-century founders usurped Yahweh’s exclusive election authority (Deuteronomy
17:15), thereby turning it over to We the People, the majority of whom, according to Matthew 7:13-14, are in the broad way leading to destruction. Talk about a D U M B idea! Just where do you suppose that’s going to get us? Perhaps the precipice of moral depravity and destruction!?!

No wonder following every election, America only becomes more ungodly, less Christian, and further enslaved regardless whether a donkey or an elephant is elected.

For more, see blog article “Salvation by Election.” Click on my picture, then our website. Go to our Blog and search on title.

Then find out how much you REALLY know about the Constitution as compared to the Bible. Take our 10-question Constitution Survey in the sidebar and receive a complimentary copy of a book that EXAMINES the Constitution by the Bible.

Jeff

God must have decided to have it left up to a vote. I mean, read Peter 2:13-17. Even god said to submit to civil government.

David Hodges

Notice in verse 14 that they are sent for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. Romans 13:1,2 tells us the same thing 1 Peter 2:13 says–to obey the authorities. Romans 13:3,4 describes these authorities as 1 Peter 2:14 describes them, as a deterrent to evil. But let’s not forget that Psalms 149:5-9 describes the manner for dealing with tyrants who don’t wish to do things God’s way.

Jeff

Yeah, isn’t that interesting. We’ve been hearing how god is going to deal with “tyrants who don’t wish to do things god’s way”. Wondering when god’s going to make an appearance. I mean, I kept hearing how we were all going to suffer so much wrath since Ma. made SSM legal. Now, more than a decade later…still waiting, and it’s the entire country (should say countries) with SSM.

See blog series “Ten Reasons Why Romans 13 is Not About Secular Government,” in which I also address 1 Peter 2:13-17. Click on my picture, then our website. Go to our Blog and scroll down to Part 1.

Jeff

Sorry, but may I ask if all Christians accept you as sole authority for defining scripture?

Matt Solomon

Is this an argument against democracy as a whole then? Clearly, according to your religion, humanity can only follow the moral laws under the strict control of a single despotic ruler: your god. How, then, can you not apply that to matters of worldly politics?

Do you really hate America so much that you’d destroy democracy to emulate the system made by your god?

peanut butter

I want to see Trump have this land re-dedicated to God, either personally or by a Chaplain, especially since Obama declared that “we are no longer a Christian nation”.

DBwatchman

Jesus said, “If you will not acknowledge me before men, I will not acknowledge you before my Father in Heaven.”

Thomas Smith

I think maybe the wording of this proposal was misleading to some, who sought to maintain the separation of church and state, and that by allowing the Ten Commandments, they would have to allow the pagan statues as well. Under the constitution you can’t allow one, and not the other. Tough call, but our Father knows our thoughts and intentions.

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